Maurice Quinlivan (Limerick City, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 13:

In page 15, line 21, to delete “The director general” and substitute “The Mayor".

We feel this is a very important amendment. We believe that because this is a new position, we have to get it right. If we get it right, other people will replicate what we are trying to do in Limerick. It should be a beacon for people; it should not turn into something people do not want to replicate. That is why we called the vote earlier and why we will press this as well. We believe the mayor should be an independent position where the person is democratically elected by the people of Limerick, both city and county, and he or she must be free to hire whoever he or she deem suitable for his or her staff. It is important for them to have the authority to select this staff from the existing Limerick City and County Council. It should be the mayor's decision to do that. We do not mind them coming from an existing pool of members, but the mayor should be the person to do that, and not the new director general. We think that is a fundamental difference from what is in the Bill. This is the concern we have. This is no disrespect to the president or CEO, who might be listening in. I know him quite well and he is a very capable person but that might not be the case for other councils that will replicate what we are trying to do.

I believe, therefore, that the failure to grant the mayor this power is a demonstration of how much power will remain in the hands of unelected officials. That is the huge concern we have. As I said, this does not necessarily specifically relate to Limerick, but going forward. The mayor should have the ability. He or she will get five staff members, four of whom will come from existing council staff. The new director general will have the authority to appoint those people, but that should be the prerogative and the responsibility of the newly elected mayor, whoever he or she may be.